British tomatoes in danger
The British tomato, and other vegetables as well, may be under threat as producers struggle with confidence in the supply chain


The British tomato could become an endangered species, as could staples such as cucumbers and spring onions, due to a drop in production-only one in five tomatoes eaten is British. These are the dramatic findings of an NFU report, Catalyst for Change, which blames the crisis on growers' lack of confidence in the supply chain. ‘British growers make a staggering financial commitment every year,' says Tomato Growers Association chairman Nigel Bartle.
* Subscribe to Country Life and get the Ipad edition at no extra cost
‘The average cost of production is £80,000 per hectare and investment in glasshouses is £1 million per hectare. So the cost of doubling production from 200 hectares and an 18% market share would be £200 million. Growers have to ask themselves whether that's a gamble worth taking.' The NFU is calling for retailers and processors to sign up to its Fruit and Veg Pledge for best practice.
** Follow Country Life Magazine on Twitter
Sign up for the Country Life Newsletter
Exquisite houses, the beauty of Nature, and how to get the most from your life, straight to your inbox.
Country Life is unlike any other magazine: the only glossy weekly on the newsstand and the only magazine that has been guest-edited by HRH The King not once, but twice. It is a celebration of modern rural life and all its diverse joys and pleasures — that was first published in Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee year. Our eclectic mixture of witty and informative content — from the most up-to-date property news and commentary and a coveted glimpse inside some of the UK's best houses and gardens, to gardening, the arts and interior design, written by experts in their field — still cannot be found in print or online, anywhere else.
-
Six rural properties with space, charm and endless views, as seen in Country Life
We take a look at some of the best houses to come to the market via Country Life in the past week.
By Toby Keel
-
Exploring the countryside is essential for our wellbeing, but Right to Roam is going backwards
Campaigners in England often point to Scotland as an example of how brilliantly Right to Roam works, but it's not all it's cracked up to be, says Patrick Galbraith.
By Patrick Galbraith